Albert Himes, a leading dealer in coal, line, cement, etc., in Grand Rapids, with office at No. 65 Pearl street, and yards on Shawmut avenue, is a native of Oswego, N. Y.

Prior to coming to Grand Rapids, Mr. Himes had been largely engaged in the manufacture of cement in Oswego, and this business, in his younger days, had been a profitable vocation, but Oswego, for some reason, began to sink into decadence, and Mr. Himes wisely decided to come west. In May, 1888, he settled in Grand Rapids, and located on the square on Shawmut avenue, which was then little better than a swamp, but most admirably suited for his proposed business in the near future. Without going into details, it will suffice to say that the square is now furnished with four railroad sidings and is admirably adapted in every respect for the purpose to which Mr. Himes intended from the start to apply it. As Mr. Himes cannot bear confinement, he attends altogether to the management of outside affairs of this now extensive business, while the details of the office work are left to the management of his son, Fred P.

Albert Himes was united in marriage with Miss M. Louise Munger, a native of Oswego, N. Y., and this union was blessed with five children—four boys and one girl—all born in Oswego. Two of these, William O. and John M., are now in business in Chicago; a third Percy A., is a mechanical engineer; Fred P., the eldest, as already mentioned, is with his father, and the daughter, Lois L., is at home.

Mr. Himes is a thirty-second degree Mason and politically he affiliates with the republican party. In religion, the family worship at the Baptist church.

Fred P. Himes was born May 11, 1869, and from 1888 to the present time has been with his father in business. Mr. F. P. Himes was married June 10, 1891, to Amelia Flower Babcock, a native of Watertown, N. Y., and by this marriage they have one child, George Anson. Fraternally Mr. Himes is a Mason. In politics he is a democrat, and he and his wife attend the Episcopal church.